Apparatus for preparing wire for drawing

ABSTRACT

Wire delivered continuously in a direction axially of its length and passes around electrically conductive members. Coating applied to wire between conductive members. Electrical current passed through wire while supported between conductive members to heat wire and bake coating thereon. Coated wire pulled continuously to receiving end of wire drawing apparatus.

United States Patent Brekle [451 Feb. 15, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR PREPARING WIRE 2,913,35411/1959 Bell ..l18/72X /e M23 a 29 x3 3- 1,606,393 11/1926 Apple ..1 18/620 X 1,822,385 9/1931 Watson ..1 18/620 2,703,550 3/1955 Bell ..118/72 2,305,755 12/1942 Akahiram. ..l5/l03.5 2,457,870 l/l949 Cook ..l l8/D1G. 22

Primary Examiner-John P. McIntosh Attorney-Jennings, Caner & Thompson [57] ABSTRACT Wire delivered continuously in a direction axially of its length and passes around electrically conductive members. Coating applied to wire between conductive members. Electrical current passed through wire while supported between conductive members to heat wire and bake coating thereon. Coated wire pulled continuously to receiving end of wire drawing apparatus.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 54 L i I 35 27 -/a H 1 APPARATUS FOR PREPARING WIRE FOR DRAWING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for preparing wire for drawing and more particularly to an automatic system which continuously, mechanically cleans and applies a coating to the wire and bakes the coating thereon as the wire is being drawn toward the wire drawing apparatus.

Heretofore in the art to which my invention relates, difficulties have been encountered in supplying properly treated wire to a wire drawing benchdue to the fact that it has been the usual practice to pretreat the wire with acid and lime and then store the wire for subsequent delivery to the wire drawing bench, thus requiring double handling of the wire for pretreatment and drawing. Such methods of pretreating wire for drawing not only require additional handling of the wire but require the disposal of spent acid and considerable storage space and additional apparatus for delivering the wire to the wire drawing bench. Also, previous methods of pretreating wire for drawing have necessitated the use of drying ovens or the like for baking limelike materials onto thewire.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION In accordance with my present invention, I provide an apparatus for continuously pretreating wire as it is pulled into the receiving end of the wire drawing bench. The wire is mechanically cleaned and delivered in a direction axially of its length and passes around electrically conductive support members. A coating of a lime or borax solution is applied to the wire between the electrically conductive members and an electrical current is passed through the wire to heat the wire to a temperature to bake the coating thereon. The wire with the baked coating thereon is then drawn into the wire drawing apparatus.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention and which may be employed to carry out my improved process is shown on the accompany drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 isan enlarged, fragmental view taken generally along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. I; and,

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 showingthe means for coating and heating the wire whereby the coating is baked thereon.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, I show wire being delivered continuously to a descaler and straightener. unit 11 wherein the wire passes around a horizontal pulley 12 to a vertical pulley l3 and then passes between a plurality of grooved straightener rolls 14.

From the descaler and straightener unit 11, the wire passes through an abrasive unit 16 where the wire is engaged by the abrasive outer surfaces of endless belts 17. While I have shown two endless belts 17, it will be apparent that one or more of the belts may be employed to clean the wire 10 as it passes through the unit 16. Each endless belt 17 passes around pulleys 18 and 19 which are secured to shafts 21 and 22, respectively. The shafts 21 and 22 are mounted for rotation in suitable bearings adjacent the ends of an elongated support member 23. A suitable opening 24 is provided in each elongated support member 23 for receiving an end of a hollow shaft 26 which is mounted for rotation in suitable bearings 27 which in turn are supported by upstanding supports 28, as shown in FIG. 1.

The shafts 21 and 22 are keyed to gears 29 and 3], respectively, which mesh with a centrally disposed stationary gear 32 carried by the adjacent upstanding support 28. The support members 23 are secured nonrotatably to the shaft 26 by suitable setscrews 33, as shown in FIG. 1. Mounted nonrotatably on the shaft 26 between the upstanding supports 28 in a suitable pulley assembly 34 which is operatively connected to a suitable source of power'whereby rotary motion is imparted to the shaft 26.

As shown inFIGS. l and 3, the wire 10 passes through the hollow shaft 26 whereby the belts 17 are rotated 'aboutthe wire 10 as the support member 23 rotates with shaft 26. Ac,- cordingly, the belt 17 not only moves around'the pulleys l8 and 19 whereby the wire engaging flight engages the wire) but the support member 23 carries the entire belt unit 17, including its supporting pulleys l8 and 19, aboutthe wire wherebythe entire surface of the wire is cleaned as it passes through the unit 16.

Mounted in position toreceive the cleaned wire 10 as'it passes from the abrasive unit'l6 is an annular groove 25 of -a first sheavelike member 36 which is mounted for rotation adjacent the upper end of an. upstanding shaft 37 which is sup-' ported by a frame indicated generally at 38. 'From the sheavelike member 36, the wire 10 passes around a second sheavelike member 39-which is mounted for rotation adjacent the upperend of a shaft 41 supported by a frame 42. After passing around sheavelikemember 39, the wire 10 passes around an additional sheave groove 43 carried by the whereby the drawing bench actually pulls the wire around the spaced-apart sheavelike members 36 and 39, as well as through the units 11 and 16. Accordingly, no additional power is required to transfer the wire during the wire straightening, cleaning, coating, drying and drawing operation.

The supporting frames 38 and 42 are electrically insulated from each other and are connected to each other by an elongated frame member 44 having separate sections 46 and 47 which are connected to each other by a, nonconductive member 48 whereby-the members 46 and 47 are electrically insulated from each other.

A supply reservoir 49 for a lime or borax solution is provided adjacent the sheavelike member 36. Communicating with the reservoir 49 by a conduit 51 is a pump 52 which conveys the solution upwardly through a conduit 53 to a flow nozzle 54 whereby the limelike material is flowed onto the wire 10 as itpasses from the sheavelike member 36 to the sheavelike member 39. The upper end of reservoir 49 is opened whereby excess solution if returned to the reservoir.

The frames 38 and 42 are connected to a source of electrical current indicated generally at 56 by electrical conductors 57 and 58, respectively. The source of electrical current is of a low voltage, high amperage whereby the resistance of wire 10 causes the wire to be heated as it passes between the sheavelike 'members 36 and 39. That is, the circuit is completed through the wire 10 as it passes from sheavelike member 36. to sheavelike member 39.

Mounted on shaft 41 below sheavelike member 39 is a sprocket member 59 which is connected by a sprocket chain 61 to a sprocket 62 which in turn drives a centrifugal-type switch 63 which is deenergized while there is no rotation of sheavelike member 39. That is, the centrifugal switch unit 63 is incircuit with the conductor 58 by branch lines 64 and 66, as shown in FIG. 1 whereby the passage of current through the wire 10 is interrupted while there is no rotation of the sheavelike member 39. Accordingly, interruption of movement of the wire between sheavelike members 36 and 39 would immediately interrupt the electrical circuit whereby there would be no current to unit 56 and no heating of the wire while there is no movement of the wire.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved apparatus and the manner in which my improved process is carried out will be readily understood. The wire is supplied continuously from a suitable source to the descaler and straightener unit 11 where the wire is straightened by the rolls 14. My apparatus is adapted for receiving any type wire since it will handle rusty wire as well as heat scale wire.

From the unit 11, the wire passes through the abrasive unit 16 whereby the endless belts l7 revolve about the wire and at the same time the belts 17 move relative to their pulleys l8 and 19 to thus thoroughly clean all surfaces of the wire as it passes therethrough. A suitable takeup 20 is anchored at one end to an adjacent elongated support 23 with the other end of the takeup bearingagainst the inner surface of one flight of the endless belt 17 urging the other flight thereof into engagement with the wire 10, as shown in FIG. 3, whereby a uniform pressure is exerted against the wire by the abrasive surface on belt 17 to thus thoroughly clean the wire as the wire passes continuously through the unit 16.

The cleaned wire passes from the unit 16 around sheavelike member 36 and then around'sheavelike member 39 whereupon it is then returned to the additional sheaved groove 43 whereupon it is then'delivered to a conventional type drawing bench where the lime or borax solution applied to the wire aids in picking up lubricant prior to the drawing operation.

As the wire 10 passes from sheavelike member 36 to sheavelike member 39, the wire connects the two sheavelike members electrically to each other whereby current then flows through the wire while the wire is in motion, to heat the' wire to a temperature to bake the coating applied thereto by the flow head 54. That is to say, the pump 52 operates continuously to circulate the solution upwardly through conduit 53 to the flow head 54. The coating is thus baked onto the wire prior to delivery to the drawing bench without the use of heating ovens or other complicated mechanism and without having to handle the wire an additional time. At any time there is an interruption in the movement of the wire 10 between the sheavelike members 36 and 39, the centrifugal switch unit 63 interrupts the circuit through branch lines 64 and 66 whereby there is no flow of electricity to unit 16 or through the wire 10 at that time. I

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved process and apparatus for preparing wire for drawing. By cleaning, coating, drying and delivering the wire to the wire drawing bench in cone continuous operation, there is no additional handling of the wire and at the same time the wire is uniformly coated with the limelike material and the material is baked thereon prior to reaching the drawing bench. Also, by providing a continuous assembly for straightening, cleaning, coating, drying and delivering the wire to the wire drawing bench, my apparatus is very compact and requires a minimum of space and is safe in operation since the apparatus is substantiallyautomatic in operation. Furthermore, by cleaning the wire and then immediately baking the lime coating onto the wire 10 in a continuous manner as it passes between the sheavelike members 36 and 39, there is no need for acid treatment thus eliminating fumes, settling tanks and other pollution problems due to acid disposal which are usually encountered in conventional methods of treating wire for drawing.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for preparing wire continuously for drawing as the wire is pulled by wire drawing apparatus to the receiving end of said wire drawing apparatus;

a. means supplying cleaned wire axially of its length substantially continuously,

b. a first electrically conductive sheavelike member having a pair of sheave grooves with one sheave groove in position to receive and support said cleaned wire as it passes relative thereto,

0. a second electrically conductive sheavelike member mounted in spaced relation to and insulated electrically from said first sheavelike member and disposed to receive and support said wire after said wire passes around said one sheave groove of said first sheavelike member and deliver said wire to the other sheave groove of said first sheavelike member, (1. means applying a coatmg to said wire ad acent said first sheavelike member and between said first and second sheavelike members,

e. means passing an electrical current through said first and second sheavelike members so that current passes through said wire while said wire is supported and in motion between said sheavelike members heating said wire to a temperature to bake said coating thereon, and

f. means delivering said wire with said coating baked thereon to said receiving end of the wire drawing apparatus whereby the wire is pulled around said sheavelike members and then through said wire drawing apparatus.

2. Apparatus for preparing wire for drawing as defined in claim 1 in which at least one of said sheavelike members is operatively connected to a centrifugal-type switch which is deenergized while there is no rotation of said sheavelike members and said switch is in circuit with said means passing an electrical current through'said wire whereby the passage of current through said wire is interrupted while there is no rotation of said sheavelike members. I

3. In apparatus for preparing wire continuously for drawing as the wire is pulled by wire drawing apparatus to the receiving end of said wire drawing apparatus:

a. at least one endless belt extending transversely of said wire and having an outer abrasive surface engaging said wire,

b. a support member mounted for rotation about said wire,

0. pulleys mounted for rotation on said support member at opposite sides of said wire receiving and supporting the ends of said endless belt,

d. a centrally disposed gear having an opening therethrough for passing said wire axially of its length,

e. a gear operatively connected to each said mesh with said centrally disposed gear,

f. means imparting relative rotary movement between said centrally disposed gear and the other gears whereby said pulleys are rotated in the same direction to impart movement to said belt as said support membensaid pulleys and said endless belt rotate about said wire so that cleane wire is supplied substantially continuously,

g. a first sheavelike member mounted in position to receive and support said cleaned wire as it passes relative thereto,

h. a second sheavelike member mounted in spaced relation to said first sheavelike member and disposed to receive and support said wire after said'wire passes around said first sheavelike member,

. means applying a coating to said wire between said first and second sheavelike members,

j. means passing an electrical current through said wire while said wire is supported and in motion between said sheavelike members heating said wire to a temperature to bake said coating thereon, and

k. means delivering said wire with said coating baked thereon to said receiving end of the wire drawing apparatus whereby the wire is pulled around said sheavelike members and then through said wire drawing apparatus.

4. Apparatus for preparing wire for drawing as defined in claim 3 in which said centrally disposed gear and said support member are mounted on a power driven, hollow shaftlike member. I I

5. Apparatus for preparing wire for drawing as defined in claim 3 in which a takeup is anchored at one end to said support member with the other end of said takeup bearing against the inner surface of one flight of said endless belt urging the other flight thereof into engagement with said wire.

pulley and in 

1. In apparatus for preparing wire continuously for drawing as the wire is pulled by wire drawing apparatus to the receiving end of said wire drawing apparatus; a. means supplying cleaned wire axially of its length substantially continuously, b. a first electrically conductive sheavelike member having a pair of sheave grooves with one sheave groove in position to receive and support said cleaned wire as it passes relative thereto, c. a second electrically conductive sheavelike member mounted in spaced relation to and insulated electrically from said first sheavelike member and disposed to receive and support said wire after said wire passes around said one sheave groove of said first sheavelike member and deliver said wire to the other sheave groove of said first sheavelike member, d. means applying a coating to said wire adjacent said first sheavelike member and between said first and second sheavelike members, e. means passing an electrical current through said first and second sheavelike members so that current passes through said wire while said wire is supported and in motion between said sheavelike members heating said wire to a temperature to bake said coating thereon, and f. means delivering said wire with said coating baked thereon to said receiving end of the wire drawing apparatus whereby the wire is pulled around said sheavelike members and then through said wire drawing apparatus.
 2. Apparatus for preparing wire for drawing as defined in claim 1 in which at least one of said sheavelike members is operatively connected to a centrifugal-type switch which is deenergized while there is no rotation of said sheavelike members and said switch is in circuit with said means passing an electrical current through said wire whereby the passage of current through said wire is interrupted while there is no rotation of said sheavelike members.
 3. In apparatus for preparing wire continuously for drawing as the wire is pulled by wire drawing apparatus to the receiving end of said wire drawing apparatus: a. at least one endless belt extending transversely of said wire and having an outer abrasive surface engaging said wire, b. a support member mounted for rotation about said wire, c. pulleys mounted for rotation on said support member at opposite sides of said wire receiving and supporting the ends of said endless belt, d. a centrally disposed gear having an opening therethrough for passing said wire axially of its length, e. a gear operatively connected to each said pulley and in mesh with said centrally disposed gear, f. means imparting relative rotary movement between said centrally disposed gear and the other gears whereby said pulleys are rotated in the same direction to impart movement to said belt as said support member, said pulleys and said endless belt rotate about said wire so that cleaned wire is supplied substantially continuously, g. a first sheavelike member mounted in position to receive and support said cleaned wire as it passes relative thereto, h. a second sheavelike member mounted in spaced relation to said first sheavelike member and disposed to receive and support said wire after said wire passes around said first sheavelike member, i. means applying a coating to said wire between said first and second sheavelike members, j. means passing an electrical current through said wire while said wire is supported and in motion between said sheavelike members heating said wire to a temperature to bake said coating thereon, and k. means delivering said wire with said coating baked thereon to said receiving end of the wire drawing apparatus wHereby the wire is pulled around said sheavelike members and then through said wire drawing apparatus.
 4. Apparatus for preparing wire for drawing as defined in claim 3 in which said centrally disposed gear and said support member are mounted on a power driven, hollow shaftlike member.
 5. Apparatus for preparing wire for drawing as defined in claim 3 in which a takeup is anchored at one end to said support member with the other end of said takeup bearing against the inner surface of one flight of said endless belt urging the other flight thereof into engagement with said wire. 